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BOX FILLING MACHINE.

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BOX FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 80, 1897.) (No Model.) [6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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No. 625,288. Patented May I6, I899. v. CABASSALE.

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No. 625,288. Patented May I6, I899. v. CARASSALE.

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(Application filed Dec. 30, 1897.)

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No. 625,288. Patented May l6, I899.

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BOX FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1897.)

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No. 625,288. Patanted May 16, I899. V. GARASSALE. BOX FILLING MACHINE.

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BOX FlLLING MACHINE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR CARASSALE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

BOX-FILLING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 625,288, dated May 16, 1899 Application filed December 30, 1897. Serial No. 664,683. (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VICTOR CARASSALE, of the city of Paris, France, have invented an Apparatus for Automatically Filling Boxes with Matches or the Like, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France for fifteen years, dated July 3, 1807, No. 268,423; in Belgium for fifteen years, dated July 3, 1897, No. 129,240, and in Austria for fifteen years, dated September 24, 1897, No. 3,561,) of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically filling boxes with matches, and particularly with wax matches.

My apparatus is characterized by the combination and special arrangement of a series of devices for effecting the filling of the matches into boxes in the same order in predetermined quantities and constructed so as to successively drop said matches for the purpose of preventing any obstruction during this operation of filling.

My improved apparatus is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a half-horizontal section of the apparatus, taken on line 1 2, Fig. 2. Figs. 2 and 2 are cross-sections of the same, taken on line 3 4, Figs. 4 and 4:, the boxes being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper part of the apparatus. Figs. & and 4: are fragmentary plan views of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of the several driving-cams. Figs. 6 to are detail views of the boxes with the devices for regulating the feed and arranging the matchheads all one way, Figs. 6 and 7 showing the two ends of the boxes in longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 a plan corresponding to Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a plan of one of the bars carrying the rectifying-tubes by which the matches are laid with their heads all one way, and Fig. 10 a vertical section of the mechanism for operating the feed regulating and parceling out. Figs. 11 and 12 represent a plan and transverse section of the frames carrying the devices for parceling out the matches. Figs. 13, let, and 15 show, respectively, an elevation, end view, and plan of the controlling or feedregulating mechanism. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 17 an end view, of one of the box-filling devices with a box shown in perspective. Figs. 18 and 19' are likeviews showing modifications of the same. Figs. 20 and 21 represent a vertical section and plan of the mechanism for operating the ring which carries the box-filling devices. Fig. 22 shows a modification of the device for arranging the matches all in one direction. Figs. 23 and 24 show the position of tappets of the feelers with regard to those of the bars carrying tubes in the several cases and the way in which said feelers are mounted.

The same letters and figures of reference indicate the same parts in all the views.

My improved apparatus is constructed mainly as follows: The operating mechanism is mounted upon a stationary ring a, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, supported upon four pillars b, braced together at bottom by four radial arms 0, bolted to the support 61 of a footstep-bearing in which revolves a central shaft e, turning at its upper part in a collar f, carried by the four inclined legs g. Upon the four pillars b are supported two arched frames 71., which are braced together at their upper part by a tierod 'i and are each provided with a cross-bar h. Upon the upper end of the central shaft 6 is mounted a cam-wheel 70, connected to said shaft by six downwardly-extending arms j, by means of which wheel the principal movements of the operative mechanism are efiected. The wheel It carries a ring of teeth is, which gears with a pinion Z, keyed on the driving-shaft n, which is mounted in abracket n, bolted to ring a, and is driven from any suitable source of power by means of pulleys n.

In order to better understand the order in which the several movements of the machine are executed, I will suppose the shaft n to impart a speed of one revolution in twelve seconds to wheel is. The arched frames h carry two shafts o, from which are hung four links 0, to which is suspended a frame p, supporting two hoppers q, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10, which for the sake of strength are made with double bottoms and are connected by means of an gle-iron brackets .r and tenonss to frame 19. (See Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7.) The said frame at every revolution of Wheel it receives an oscillatory motion during six seconds, imparted through a connecting-rod 59 and lever 58, Fig. 1, by means of the sinuous groove formed of matches from passing through it.

in one-half the circumference of cam 57, Figs. 1 and 5, a vibration which is equal to about thirteen millimeters being produced, which moves hopper q to the right, Fig. 1. At the commencement of the eighth second, or after traversing an arc of two hundred and ten degrees, the cam-groove 57 in receding from the center of the machine moves the frame 1) fourteen millimeters in the reverse direction. On the cam attaining the two hundred and'eightyfifth degree, or in about nine and one-half seconds, the small sinuosities of the cam produce slight vibrations of frame 19, while between the three hundredth and three hundred and thirtieth degree, or during the eleventh second, the frame 19 is moved back fourteen millimeters to its original position, Fig. 5. The effect of these movements will be afterward described. The lever 58 is pivoted in a bracket 59', carried on ring a, Figs. 1 and 5.

Each box q is divided into a certain number of compartments, Figs. 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10, each provided with a double incline t, forming a chute, and with a rectangular aperture u, Figs. 8 and 10, through which the matches fall, they being guided in their descent by the two vertical sides 17 and the aperture to being small enough to prevent the whole mass The bottom of the box q, Figs. 8 and 10, is provided with a number of holes xfour, for example,for each cmpartment--which comm unicate with vertical tubes g of a diameter less than the length of a match. at, Figs. 7 and 8, are small stems which extend upward in proximity to the holes x and are also partially surrounded by semicircular collars The vertical tubes 3 which extend up through the double bottom of the box q, are divided by a horizontal partition 1 and a vertical partition 2, Figs. 6, 7, and 10, into three compartmentsan upper one, 3, and two lower ones, 4 and 5. The partition 1 has a number of small holes 0-six, for example-three for each lower compartment. (See Figs. 6 and 8.) The height of the compartments 3 4 5 is less than the length of a match. The bottom of the compartments 4 5 is made concave and provided with a hole 7 at its lowest point near the wall of tube y. The holes 6 7, Figs. 8 and 10, are made of such diameter as to permit of one match only passing at a time. Apertures S 8, Figs. 6 and 10, are made in the walls of tubes y g for the introduction of separating-slides 25, Figs. 8, 10, and 11, into compartments 4 5. Each exit-aperture 7 communicates with a small tube 9, Figs. 10 and 6, said tubes being carried by bars 10, Figs. 6 and 10, fixed to cross-bars 11, connected to frame 1) by means of angleirons 12. The separating-slides are carried by four frames 31 30, Figs. 12, S, 6, 7, 10, and 11, two

outer and two inner, and each constituted of two superposed frames which carry, Figs. 11 and 12, the frame 31, the cross-bars 29, the frame 30, and the cross-bars 28, which latter in turn carry small bars 26, and the crossbars 29 carry the small bars 27, the separatin g-slides 25, which are respectively disposed opposite the openings 8 of tubes 11 being fixed to said bars 26 and 27. There is a frame 30 and 31 to each box (1, and the frames 31 are connected together on each side by bars 31, and, similarly, the two inner frames 30 are connected together by bars 30. The frames 30 and 31 are supported and guided by blocks 30", secured by screws 31" to brackets 7', Figs. 6, 7, and 12. The frames 30 and 31 are also connected together at one side by a rock-1ever 32, pivoted at 33 upon a bracket 33, fixed to box q, Figs. 8 and 10, said rock-lever by its oscillation on axis 33 producing a move ment of about eight millimeters in opposite directions of the frames 30 and 31, and consequently ofthe series of bars 26 and 27, for causing the separating slides to enter the compartments 4 5 about six millimeters and to withdraw them therefrom, Figs. 11 and 10. This to-and-fro movement of the frames 30 31 is obtained with the aid of the connecting-rod 44, Figs. 3 and 10, the vertical movement of which is produced by the cam 45, Figs. 2 and 5. The rod 44 carries a horizontal guide 44, Figs. 10 and 3, in which is received a friction-roller mounted on the end of a lever 43, keyed at about the middle of a shaft 42, turning freely in bearings 42', fixed on box q. (See Fig. 3.) Upon shaft 42 are keyed two lever-arms 41, jointed to lugs 41 on frame 31. In this manner too when the rod 44 is raised by cam 45 the arm 41 will thrust the frame 31 toward the left, and when the rod 44 descends the frame 31 is moved toward the right, so as to producea movement of a few millimeters in extent in opposite directions of the two frames 30 and 31. The guide 44', Figs. 10 and 3, serves to enable the lever 43 to partake in the oscillatory movements of box q. The movement of frame 31 toward the left and its retention in this position, and consequently the remaining of the separating-slides 25 within the tubes y, is produced while wheel 7.: describes an arc of one hundred and sixty-five degrees, or from about the commencement of the seventh to the end of the twelfth second, which movement corresponds to a slight superelevation of one hundred and sixty-five degrees of length of the cam 45. The box q, tubes y and 9, and separating-slides 25 constitute the mechanism which serves to parcel out or separate the matches into given quantities in the manner hereinafter described. The number of matches to be separated is determined by the number of small tubes 9, Figs. 7 and 10, which each receive one match at a time and where they are momentarily retained by a bar 13, placed beneath at a distance from hole 7 of tube 3 less than the length of the match.

A special device prevents the separation of the matches which are' not in the determined member. This device consists of a movable frame formed of bars 35, united. by three crossbars 34, supported by plates 34, fixed to frame 1). (See Figs. 10, 13,14, and 15.) The bars 35 carry contact-pieces or feelers 36, Fig. 23, each corresponding to atube 9. Each of said feelers is provided with a lug 39 and is carried by a socket 37, capable of sliding on the bars 35, a small spring 38, placed in the groove of bar 35, Figs. 15 and 24, fixed at one end to said bar and at the other end to the socket, constantly tending to return the latter to its initial position. On the feelerframe being pushed toward the right at a given moment a distance of from ten to twelve millimeters the feelers are brought beneath the tubes 9, and should they meet with a match the spring yields to this obstacle and the lug 39, Fig. 23, is held out of line with tappets 40 on the bars 13. \Vhen the tube 9 does not contain any match, the feeler continues its movement, and its lug is arrested in line with the studs, Fig. 23, the effect produced in each case being as hereinafter described. A single feeler-frame extends beneath both boxes q.

Fig. 23 shows the different positions which the feelers and their lugs 39 can take with regard to the tappets 40 of the bars 13 and the cases where it would be possible to bring the tubes 9 above the tubes 14. The bar A shows the feelers in their primitive position. In the bar B they have met with a match. In

such case the bringing together of the tubes 9 and 14 can be effected freely. In the bar 0 the tubes have not met with a match in the tubes 9. In the bar D they have met with a match in two tubes and not in two others. In the case of bars 0 and D the superposition of the tubes 9 and 14 is not possible, as the tappets 40, and consequently the bars 13, would be carried away by tappets 39. The movement of said frame, like that of the separating-slides, is controlled by a vertical rod 49, actuated by a cam 50, Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 10. A lever-arm 48 is keyed near the middle of a shaft 47, turning in bearings 47, fixed to frame 1), and two lever-arms 46 on the opposite ends of said shaft are jointed to lugs 46, Figs. 3 and 10, fixed to the cross-bar 34 of the feeler-frame. In this manner when rod 49 is raised by the cam 50, Figs. 2 and 10, the levers 46 advance the frame of separating-slides 25 a distance of from ten to twelve millimeters toward the right, and when the rod 49 descends the frame returns to its original position. This movement is efiected once for every revolution of wheel from the commencement of the seventh to the commencement of the ninth second, which corresponds to a slight superelevation of cam 50, extending through an arc ofsixty degrees. The cams 45 50 are carried by a ring 51 on the large wheel 7o, Figs. 1, 2, and 5.

The device employed for separating the matches with their heads all one way consists of a cylindrical tube 14, Figs. 6, 7, and 10,

which is slotted for a certain distance and slightly curved or bent at an angle at its lower end, said slot extending in a longitudinal direction on the concave side of the curve and being made of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the stem of the match, but of less width than the head. The object of the curve or bend of the tube is to-cause the match-stem to drop out through the slot before it has traversed the entire length of the tube. The diameter of each of the tubes 14 is such that a match will pass lengthwise therethrough until the bent end is reached, when the stem of the match will drop through the slit and the matches will be discharged with all their heads extending in the same direction. The tubes 14, which are in number equal to that of tubes 9, are carried by the bars 13, which slide in guides 15 on the two sides of frame 1). The guides 15 have only a few centimeters in length, just the width of frame 9, Figs. 10, 7, and 8. In their normal position the tubes 14 do not coincide with tubes 9, Figs. 6 and 7.' Each tube 14 corresponds to a tappet 40, carried by the bar 13, Figs. 6 and 9, one end of which latter bears against a sliding rod 16, acted on by a spring 17 and supported in stirrup pieces 18, carried on a shaft 19, mounted at its opposite ends in the arched frames h, Figs.' 3, 6, 7, and 10. The bars 13 are provided toward their righthand end with a tappet 20, Fig. 7, which bears against a lug 21 on a rod 23, acted on by a spiral spring 22 of less force than the spring 17, contained in a socket 24 on frame In the position shown the bar 13 is not subject to the thrust of either of the springs 17 or 22, which are retained by their supports. Each bar 13 is also provided with a cross-slot to receive a tappet or bolt 92, Figs. 8 and 7, capable of sliding from one side to the other of said slot and placed between a notched frame 56, carried by a bar 56, bolted to the arched frames h, Fig. 1, and a lever 54, keyed on shaft 55, also carried by the frames h. The

' levers 54 are operated by a connecting-rod 53,

actuated by a cam 52 in such manner that said levers are at a given moment forced to turn toward the left. The connecting-rod 53 is guided at its lower part in a bracket 53, Fig. 1, carried by the trough 70, and it is operated by a slight superelevation of cam 52, Figs. 1 and 5, extending through an arc of about one hundred and fifteen degrees, this movement being performed in almost the same time as the holder 9 moves fourteen millimeters to the left, or from the commencementof the eighth second and during a period of rather more than three seconds. Under these conditions when the box q effects its six seconds of oscillatory movement thirteen millimeters to the right the bar 13, Figs. 6 and 7, carried by the frame 19, moves away from rod 16 and partakes in the same oscillations, and when box q moves fourteen millimeters to the left if no ouelug 39 of the feelers is arrested in the line of the tappets 40, Fig. 23, the bar 13 is held in place by the rod 16 through its spring 17 which is stronger than spring 22,

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which is thus forced to yield. While the bars 13 remain stationary the tubes 9 are brought by the movement of the box q opposite the tubes 14 to allow matches to fall on the endless web 60. On the box q moving back toward the right the spring 22 gradually expands and holds bar 13 in position. On the other hand, should one of the lugs 39 of the feelers be arrested in the line of the tappets 40, Fig. 23, on the feeler-frame moving toward the right and failing the presence of a match in either of the tubes 9 the lug 39 will carry the corresponding bar 13 with it in its movement of fourteen millimeters, and the tube9 cannot be brought opposite to the tube 14. The tappet or bolt 92, Figs. 7 and 8, will also at same time be forced to slide from the other side between the teeth of segment 54, which in rotating toward the left will move the bar two millimeters farther, or to an extent of sixteen millimeters, allowing the feelers to retire, the bar 13 under the action of spring 17 returning to position, together with segment 54, whose left-hand tooth will force the tappet 92 back to the other side. Beneath each bar 13 is disposed an endless web 60, Figs. 1, 3, and 10, which passes around pulleys 61 and 62, the former of which are keyed on a same shaft 63, mounted in the arched frames h and driven from the central shaft 6 by means of bevel-gearing on an intermediate shaft 64, mounted in a bracket 64, bolted to the trough 70, Fig. 1. The pulleys 62, Figs. 2 and 3, are mounted on independent adjustable supports, so as to permit of regulating the tension of each web, said supports being carried ona single shaft 62, mounted in bearings 62 on cross-bars h. The endless webs receive continuous motion at a speed which is calculated at a speed such that a given point will move from one extremity to the otherin eight seconds. 65, Figs. 2, 3, and 10, are fences carried by bars 65 for retaining the match es upon the endless webs. web 60, Fig. 1, is a funnel 66, placed above a distributing-spout leading to a box-filling device 68. The funnels 66 are carried by the bar 65, which is supported from the arched frame it, Figs. 1 and 3. The spouts 67 are carried by a part 69, capable of sliding on a transmitted from wheel 7t in the following manner, (see Figs. 20 and 21:) The wheel it carries a tappet 72, mounted on a spring- At the end of each endless pressed rod provided with a friction-roller 72 and a cam-surface76, mounted on an arm 76'. The stationary ring a carries a spring-pressed bolt 74, also provided with a friction-roller and a cam 75, extending around about onefifth of its circumference and supported upon posts The ring 71 is provided with five catches 74 for successively engaging with the bolt 74 and with five stops 73, placed equidistant from each other. In the position of rest the ring 71 is held stationary by bolt 74, and the tappet 72 under the pressure of its spring will be outside the circle of stops 73. At each revolution, however, of wheel 7.: the cam 76 strikes the friction-roller of springbolt 74 and moves it backward, while cam 75 presses back roller 72 and tappet 72, so as to cause the latter to strike the stop 73 and carry with it in its rotation the ring 71 for a period of a fifth of a revolution. At this moment the cam 75 causes the tappet 72 to release the stop 73 and allows the bolt 74 to enter the next catch presented to it. Onefifth of a revolution is thus performed in 2.4 seconds and the stoppage of ring 71 in 9.6 seconds for every revolution of wheel is. The motion is thus sufiiciently slow to prevent any appreciable shock, the more so as ring 71 constantly receives a certain impulse from a studded ring 51, hereinafter described. Shocks may also be entirely prevented by providing the stops 73 with springs.

The box-filling devices 68, whose external form may be varied as regards the part which receives the boxes to suit the form of the latter,consist, essentially, of an inclined channel 77, Figs. 16 and 18, provided at its upper part with a funnel-mouth 78, through which the matches enter, and terminated at bottom by spring-jaws 79 80, between which the boxes to be filled are placed in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 17. The channel 77 is provided at its lower end with an aperture 81, through which the matches fall into the box. The jaws 80 of the filler, Fig. 16, are separated (see Fig. 17) to admit, as hereinafter described, of the insertion between them of an ejector 88, Figs. 2, 16, and 17, for discharging the full boxes, as hereinafter described. The fillers 68, Fig. 1, are mounted on independent supports, fitted to slide upon the ring 71, by which they are carried, and are each spring-pressed in the direction of the center of the machine. Each support is provided with a lower roller in constant contact with a cam-ring 51, Figs. 1, 5, and 2, carried by the arms of the large wheel 70, which ring when the motion of ring 71 is arrested imparts a to-and-fro motion to the fillers.

The filled boxes may be removed by hand or by means of a series of twenty extractors 88, (see Fig. 2,) which may be placed, for example, in the third are of seventy-two degrees. The extractors are mounted on brackets 88', fixed to ring a, and are held in position by springs, and a short cam 89 is provided on wheel 70, which on passing at each revolution 

